Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-29
4 REMARKABLE Doc.
what Biz Hasfim Did for His
Gardcn-LOViuz Master.


Mr.. Harold Dollner, a native OF Den
mark, and for many years Consul
General of Denmark III New York city.
saws a writer in the 0risiiGH 4drO-
cate, and a portion of the time acting
minister for that kingdom, and well
known TO businessmen as the mead of
the firm of Dollner, Potter 4 Co., Of
New York, for many years resided lii
Brooklyn in n mansion Of the Old style,
situated on Washington avenue, III the
midst of what, for a city, are large
grounds. He always took great in
terest III his flowers, trees, and vegeta-
bleS, and in the heart of the city raised
the very finest pumpkins. He also
kept two or three dogs -One a house
dog, another of the spaniel variety,
and the third a powerful mastiil. The
mastiff was always chained near the
stable. and not far from the rear en-
trance to the premises.
In Il certain autumn the pumpkins
which were produced in Mr.. Dollner's
garden were of such extraordinary size
and beauty that they excited the Gu
pidity OF person who stole two of the
largest of them and took them TO the
horticultural exhibition, where he en-
tered them as his own, and actually
took the premium for them. This so
raised Mr.. Dollner's Indignation that
he instructed his gardener to take off
the largest of those which remained
and deposit them in the cellar, lest they
also should he stolen. At the same time
he told him to set the mastiff loose, so
that if anybody else came in Mt night
to steal the pumpkins the dog would
attack him. Pursuant to tins order the
gardener worked all the afternoon
taking off the finest of the pumpkins,
which he carried up one by one, piling
them near the cellar door until he had
finished, when he conveyed them into
the cellar. About sunset he unclaimed
the mastifl.
This dog bad watched the perform
ance of the gardener, and during the
night he gnawed off the largest of the
remaining pumpkins and carried them
one by one to the cellardoOr, where he
piled them up and stood guard over
them until the next morning, when, as
the cook arose and opened the kitchen
door, with an expression Of great de-
light the animal wagged his tail, looked
up for appreciation, and went away.
The next night he gnawed off every
thing from the size of Il haZelnut up
ward, and carried them to the cellar
door as before. A few days afterward,
when the person suspected 81 having
stolen the pumpkins, who had always
been friendly with him, entered, the
mastiff sprang upon him with the ut
most rage.
Mr.. Dollner was living when We wrote
the above. 1t was then sent to him
with the request that he would certify
to It's truth if he could, or alter it till
he could conscientiously attest it, A
few weeks before his death we received
our last communication from him
"No. 259 WASHINGTON AVENUE,
BROOKLYN, 7, ~, 1861 certify that
the account given by DR.. Buckley of
my pumpkins and my dog is trie in
every particular.
"HARoLD DOLLNER."
1t is plain that the mastiif had never
seen such an operation before. He
therefore must have comprehended it
by an effort of the mind, held it
through the entire night, worked upon
it, contemplated it as q completed act,
and surrendered the pumpkins to the
family when they arose. Yet of course
he failed TO comprehend the reason or
to distinguish the value of the ripe
from the unripe pumpkins He also
obviously connected the man who had
in his sight stolen the pumpkins with
the deed.
At the time this was told TO the writer
there were six witnesses liying-the
gardener, two servants in the house,
and the owner OF the establishment,
bis wife, and their son.